As a rental property tenant you may not have a lot of experience fixing things in your home because you have always had a site manager or repair person around. But there are some things that just can’t wait at times!
Bennett Properties will be happy to help you in emergencies and with common repairs – but did you know these are some easy fixes that you can do to avoid waiting for us to show up?
1. Your Fridge isn’t Working!
- In hotter months it can be harder for a fridge to keep up with cooling your groceries. This happens because the coils on the back or bottom of your fridge get covered in dust and hair over time. Just simply take a vacuum attachment and gently remove the build up to allow for the air flow your fridge needs! Simple as that.
- It can also be that when you crank your thermostat to the coldest setting that this freezes over the airflow between your freezer and fridge. All you need to do is remove your items into a cooler while you thaw out your appliance. You can have a fan blowing into the fridge to help speed up the process. And don’t forget to have rags or a baking sheet under the edge to catch any large drips!
- This may seem silly but have you checked your breaker? Sometimes if your fridge kicks on while you have an AC unit or fan going it can pull too much from your electrical panel and make your breaker flip. You will just need to flip it all the way off and back on again. If you have a GFCI outlet (the ones with the buttons for resetting) this also could need to be reset by pressing the test then reset button.
Good practices with fridges:
- Always limit the amount of time you leave the door open- especially when it’s hot out!
- Clean up any spills or debris that could flow into the fixture and cause damage to the appliance over time.
2. Your Toilet is Running! Or it’s NOT Flushing!
- If you ever hear (or see) your toilet suddenly run water but you didn’t just flush it- this means your toilet is not running properly. This can equate to hundreds of dollars added onto the water bill in a short amount of time! Look to see if your tank flush setting is low enough or if it needs to be adjusted.
- Toilets have a “fill valve” that has a small rubber washer inside. When this wears out it’s a simple $3 part that can save you loads on your water bill!
- Toilets have a “flapper” which is typically a rubber flap that covers the hole between the tank and the bowl. If the flapper is older it can sit wrong and cause water to continue to flow through after you’ve flushed. Another pricey leak that can be solved with an item less than $10!
- If your toilet is having trouble flushing – a simple plunger could be all that you need. Even if you haven’t felt like you flushed something to cause a clog- there are other reasons the line could get jammed Maybe you used “flushable wipes” – these are marketed as flushable but any plumber will tell you- they aren’t! The material gets caught easily at all drain line joints – old or new. So if you use wipes it’s best to dispose of them in the trash. Drain line clearings can cost hundreds of dollars just to start! Ways you can fix your clogged toilet: Plunge with good suction to the bowl. Toilets are sturdy and plungers are made for forceful use! Or if that isn’t an option – pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of dawn dish soap (or similar) and let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour. You may need to plunge again, but sometimes the soap will dislodge debris build up on it’s own!
Toilets are such a simple design- but they can go wrong in a lot of little ways! We recommend keeping them on low water use flushes as a general rule and to keep them clean with a toilet brush and plunger!
3. Your Electricity Keeps Going Out!
If you find that suddenly your breaker keeps flipping off- it could be that you are overloading a certain circuit. Common changes are:
- You recently got a new AC unit or heater
- You have a microwave
- You use a hair dryer
- It’s the summer and it’s hot out! (Your appliances are all working overtime!)
- You have an extension cord with a bunch of stuff plugged in all at once
- You noticed marks on your outlet – like there was some sort of spark
All of these things mean that you need to unplug and relocate things to other places either temporarily or as your new normal. Most of our buildings are old and even historic – which means that they were not designed for all of your electrical needs all at one time. You may need to unplug things when not in use. You also may need to look at energy efficient options.
If you continue to have outages even after adjusting your electronics, we will come by for an inspection to help solve your issue.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR ELECTRICAL YOURSELF. If an outlet, light switch, or light fixture needs replacing please contact us to do the work for you.
4. Your Water Pressure Has Gotten Worse!
At times your water supply lines can clog up with debris. There are a couple ways you can clear the line that are easy and don’t require any tools!
- On your faucets there are end caps called “aerators” that regulate the flow of water and have a small mesh filter. If you unscrew these with your fingers (sometimes you may need a rag or rubber glove to get a better grip) you can turn on your faucet without it to clear debris. Then clean the filter screen before screwing it back on. Your water flow should be better immediately if this was the issue.
- If it’s not the aerator you may need to check your supply line “shut offs” which are located on the wall below the faucet. If these are not in the fully on position, turn them fully on and see if there is a difference.
If neither of these options change the flow of your water you may need us to come out and clear the lines or replace the fixtures. Older buildings can over time change in water flow due to main line work done in the area. In those cases a plumber or handy man would need to get more involved.
If this list of common issues doesn’t cover your typical problems, we encourage you to reach out to us by submitting a work order through Appfolio. And if you have an emergency, please call 206-933-1950 ext. 1 to reach someone 24/7
If there is a questionable repair that needs to be addressed do not hesitate to submit a work order. We will happily consult and advise if it is something we can guide you through or if we need to send a professional.
THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO YOURSELF ON A RENTAL UNIT:
Do not paint your unit! All of our units have colors that are in our stock for a reason. We do not allow for tenants to paint their rentals. If you need touch up paint please let us know.
Do not drill into plaster, concrete, or brick! If you need to install a shelf, hook, etc. but you don’t have standard drywall- you will need to use something like a Command Strip or opt for a standing shelf. Drilling into these stronger materials is not allowed and will cause damage that will be charged from your security deposit.
ALWAYS CONSIDER THESE THINGS:
Use felt pads on all of your furniture. This will protect your floors from scratches and dents. Floors can be very expensive to repair. So investing in area rugs and felt pads will pay off in the long run. And never use rolling chairs on wood floors- this will cause damage that is not possible to repair.
Having a rental can be frustrating if you like to “refinish” your own spaces. If you have any questionable modifications you’d like to make (vinyl stickers/wall paper, painting, installing mounted fixtures, etc.) please contact the office to see if you have permission to do so. Certain modifications could cost you upon move out- so being in communication is always a better option.
